Review: Able2Extract Professional PDF Converter & Editor

When it comes to storing and sharing information electronically, nothing beats the ubiquitous PDF. The basic idea behind the PDF was to create an on-screen equivalent of a paper document. The main drawback of the format is that files saved as PDF can’t be easily modified or improved. So, if you spot a typo or an obvious miscalculation in the table, you can’t just modify it in your preferred PDF viewer.

To do that, you need a PDF editor like the one we’re taking under scrutiny in this review: Able2Extract Professional.

Able2Extract Professional is an all-in-one PDF solution that can create, convert and edit PDF files. A nerd trivia alert: it is the first cross-platform PDF converter available for Windows, Mac and Linux; and the first commercial PDF converter ever developed for Linux. So, let’s get to know it a bit better and see what it has to offer.

The Interface

Able2Extract Professional has an uncluttered, self-explanatory user interface that makes it really easy to navigate around and find features that you need.

All of the main command options are displayed on the top toolbar. From there you can perform all operations by clicking on the appropriate buttons.

PDF Conversion

Able2Extract Professional is capable of converting both native and image-based PDF files to all major file formats like Microsoft Excel, Word, AutoCAD, PowerPoint, JPEG, etc. Furthermore, it allows users to automate their conversions by converting multiple PDFs at once, or even entire folders thanks to the batch conversion functionality.

The entire conversion process takes just 3 clicks. This is one of Able2Extract’s signature features. Here’s how to convert PDF to Word:

Click on the Open icon and open the desired PDF file,

Select All to convert the entire file or Area to convert just a part of it,

Click on the Word icon to start the conversion.

That’s it! The software will automatically convert PDF to Word.

The most distinguishing feature is custom PDF to Excel conversion. This feature allows users to manually customize the table layout and structure before transferring data to an Excel spreadsheet and to preview the output. This gives users the full control over tabular data extraction.

PDF Editing

Able2Extract Professional is a full-blown PDF editor with features that are up to par with its conversion functionalities.

The software allows users to make various, instantly visible edits to PDFs. Most notable features include text and image editing, font customization, information reduction, content annotation, form filling and editing, password protection.

To make edits to the document, you need to switch to PDF editing mode by clicking on the Edit icon. From there, you can use the advanced editing options to correct typos, add new text, images or make other modifications to your PDFs directly without having to transfer them to editable file types first.

You can do all this and more (like print to PDF to any printable file or password-protect your documents) without having to worry about privacy and security of your information because it’s a desktop software. It performs all operations locally and does not share your files with any external servers. If you want to give Able2Extract professional a spin, you can get a free trial from the developer’s website here.